Software Testing Strategies and Approaches
Are you venturing into the software testing project for the very first time? Well, it’s better late than never. There was a time when the concept of software testing was pretty vague; fortunately, this is no longer the case. In today’s times, keeping the quality of the software intact is pretty much paramount. And how is this possible by simply conducting comprehensive testing repeatedly? The following post focuses on testing strategies and approaches. Now conducting a software development or software testing project is a huge investment of time, money, energy, effort and resources. So one needs to be extremely careful while conducting.
Fret not, the following article can successfully assist you in developing accurate software testing strategies for fast, accurate, effective verification of websites and applications. However, before that let us go through the significance of software testing.
Significance of Software Testing
Being one of the most crucial aspects of the software development life cycle. Software testing not only leads to identifying popular bugs but also evaluating them right on time and improving the overall quality of the developed software products. Software testing ensures that the developed product is free from bugs and highly secured, functional and meets the needs and demands of the end user.
Mitigating Risks - Software testing assures not just proper identification of defects, issues, and errors during the early stages of the development process. Now why is this necessary in the early stages? Well, because they are less expensive to fix and at the same time successfully reduce project risks, especially in regards to quality, security, performance and so more.
Compliance - When proper software testing is conducted, it means the developed product is much in regards to predetermined standards, regulations and compliance requirements. Basically, it’s about developing safety-critical systems.
User Satisfaction - Now since software development is no longer a one-time process and so is testing. Yes, software testing is conducted on a repeated basis just to successfully verify usability, functionality and seamless compatibility. By doing so, you can guarantee a severe increase in user interaction which eventually leads to user satisfaction and reduces negative impact on the organisation’s reputation and finances. Also, here by doing so, you can be safeguarded from ending up developing poor quality products.
Highly Optimised - The next aspect that shouldn’t be taken for granted is highly optimised software development projects. You see when you conduct appropriate testing, the overall software quality, user experience, security, performance and other relevant product attributes can be well taken care of.
Cost Effective - Last but certainly not least, conducting software testing pretty much in advance can successfully reduce downstream costs. Not to mention, finding and fixing bugs at an earlier stage is way easier than doing so at a later stage.
Benefits of Software Testing
Saves ample of money
One of the obvious advantages of considering software testing is that it saves ample money. Yes, for many especially non-techies, software testing seems quite a costly venture but I would like to ask you to focus on the big picture. Imagine you have developed software and all of a sudden you will find out that there is some bug or error in what to do. So if you have conducted software testing procedures in advance, then redoing or rectification costs can be avoided.
Security
The next benefit to take into consideration when it comes to software testing is high-end security. In today’s competitive times when security breaches keep on happening every now and then, conducting software testing leads to safeguarding the most vulnerable and sensitive part of the product. And most importantly, people keep looking every now and then for well-tested and most reliable products.
Satisfaction of customer
Now as the product owner, it is your prime duty to provide the best satisfaction to the customers. Also, this offers a prerequisite and perfect user experience. On and all, with software testing, nothing can stop you from reaping long-term benefits. The market is quite saturated, better make the most of it.
Performance
Now there are times when software performance can be affected and low performance can reduce the reputation in the market. So in such scenarios, users are not going to trust you which also leads the reputation of the organisation to suffer. So when conducting software testing, performance somehow does matter.
Types of Software Testing
Functional Testing - This type of testing successfully evaluates all the current and potential errors regarding functional, business and customer requirements and so more. Each functionality leads to using appropriate user inputs, verifying outcomes, and comparing them with expected results. Top examples include unit testing, integration testing, and system testing.
Non-Functional Testing - Whereas non-functional testing ensures seamless stability, performance, efficiency, portability and everything concerning specific functionalities. Top examples include performance testing, load testing and security testing.
What is a Software Testing Strategy?
A successful software testing strategy is the quality assurance approach which is highly focused on the project goal. In other words, it is a key planning tool which assists in defining what actions must be taken and at what time. The need for conducting such a testing strategy is to ensure absolute transparency of development. In addition, everyone involved in the project now has a better understanding of how testing can affect the overall quality of the product.
When you have developed a full-fledged software testing strategy at hand,
You are more likely to enhance development procedures, mitigate risks and reduce overall development costs. Now you must be wondering who is responsible for these software testing strategies. Well, QA teams are highly responsible for preparing, maintaining and taking care of all test strategies.
Additional Tip: Since software development projects are different in concept and execution, test strategies absolutely cannot be universal to suit every project. Yes, here there is no concept of one-size-fits-all. In fact, these are supposed to be developed in accordance to project requirements, specifics and team needs.
Key Components of Software Testing Strategies
Here you will come across what a software testing strategy comprises.
1. Scope of testing
Here you can decide on whether to test software modules or not. In addition, you can even consider the fact that which types or levels of testing need to be tested. In addition to this, what else is included here? Tasks related to software QA, test documents and elements that ensure the quality of the developed software.
2. Roles, responsibilities and allocation
Here which resources will be used, which tasks need to be prioritised on a first come and first basis, have you set any preconceived rules for distributing tasks, and how to control testing scenarios and so more? Basically, we are talking about the core principles of forming the workflow of the quality assurance team.
3. Testing environment
The next component to take into consideration is the testing environment. Yes, it is determining the devices, browsers, and operating systems where the product is used, how much area of coverage and support needs to be considered and so on.
In addition, which tools are required for conducting different procedures such as test management, automated testing, security testing, and performance testing?
4. Criteria and metrics
Criteria and metrics state under what circumstances, testing can begin and which parameters enable testing to be considered complete. So yes test measurement and metrics are much needed here.
5. Risk management
The next component is identifying all the potential risks, assessing the probability and conducting proper actions to mitigate such risks, creating proper response plans especially in case the risks cannot be prevented in time.
6. Project-specific agreements
This component features domain standards, test data and their sources, accepted terminology and principles for team members, release schedules, deadlines, team communication, etc.
So what are the key elements of an effective test automation strategy?
Well-defined scope and goals
Establishing a proper test approach
Choosing the right tools
Designing relevant and appropriate test cases
Creating a proper execution plan
Reviewing test results thoroughly
Types of Software Testing Strategies
1. Static testing strategy
Here quick identification of software bugs is done and that too without the need for executing the code. Wondering how? Well, it is possible by reviewing and analysing documentation. So what all it takes to conduct a seamless static testing strategy?
Informal review
Code walkthrough
Proper inspection
Peer Review
Static code analysis
2. Structural testing strategy
This type of software testing strategy focuses on internal design and seamless implementation of the developed software. Here everything from the overall system’s behaviour is assessed and further evaluated; it's similar to white box testing. Here before executing such a testing strategy, one requires a deep understanding of the code. Some amazing testing techniques to take into account include mutation testing, data flow testing, control flow testing, slice-based testing and a lot more.
3. Behavioural testing strategy
Now another popular name for this testing strategy is black box testing which successfully evaluates the app’s overall behaviour in regards to different inputs and scenarios. This testing is conducted from the end user's perspective of the developed application. Several aspects such as user profiles and scenarios, developing a thoroughly integrated system, manual execution and limited automation, and above all proper usage of different testing techniques.
Final Words
Whichever approach or tool or component you choose, all you need to conduct is a meticulously planned software testing strategy which acts as a solid foundation for your success.